New battery required?

[chris8886]

i am lucky enough to be able to keep my bike in a garage away from the crapest weather where it's a little warmer. whenever it's been in the garage (even if not used for a few days) and i wheel it out, it starts first time no problems.

however if it's been left out in this particularly cold weather we're having currently over night, then the next day it won't start (i can't even manage to bump start it!). like the battery is drained, some jump leads and it's no problem to start it and it then runs fine.

so... do i need to stop being a tight git and splash out on a new battery or does the .org think there is some other underlying problem?

thanks in advance

depends. Do you charge the battery and how often have you done this?

If you've tried to bump a few times chances are batteries knackered otherwise a good charge with an optimate might save it.

But if the batteries old anyway might as well just replace it.

[chris8886]

i don't put it on a charger very often at all because i use it quite almost daily and the charger is on my other bike for the winter. i did stick the optimate on it the first time this happened, but then only left it out in the cold for over night for the first time during christmas.

Chris,

It might be knackered, but...

Cold temperatures, will reduce a batteries discharge rate. The battery can seem flat when it is fully charged. Usually warming the battery by giving it a tickle with a charger is enough to get it going again. The symptoms become worse as the battery ages.

A battery tender not only keeps a battery charged, but also warm and is a worthwhile investment in colder climates.

Cheers

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by MattCo

Cold temperatures, will reduce a batteries discharge rate. The battery can seem flat when it is fully charged.

Umm, other way 'round, no? Cold temps reduce battery performance, if it seems flat it probably is, and if it repeatedly does so then something is wrong, don't persevere with a knackered part, temperature is undoubtedly important, but you could put it in the oven if you want to it's not going to heal up.

Check bike first, specifically for charging and battery leaks, but ultimately I'd say your battery is goosed, yes it's true that cold weather will lessen available charge, but if yours constantly plays flat bin it, it won't get better and the even best battery charger in the world can't work miracles.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Umm, other way 'round, no? Cold temps reduce battery performance...

That is what I said in different words.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

if it seems flat it probably is...

Not neccessarily, cold temps reduce battery performance...
It is almost possible to shut a new battery down at very low temperatures and a halfway decent battery does not lose its charge at those temperatures. The low temperature creates the illusion of a flat battery by inhibiting the battery's ability to deliver cranking Amps. Trying usually just damages the battery. Warm it up and it will deliver full cranking amps.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

don't persevere with a knackered part, temperature is undoubtedly important, but you could put it in the oven if you want to it's not going to heal up.

A little far fetched... No one said anything about a miracle cure.
Chris's battery probably does need replacing but from the description in his original post, I got the impression that temperature could be at least part of the cause of his problems.

Cheers

Matt

[embee]

I think Matt and Sid are saying effectively the same thing (how's that for diplomacy? )

All I'd add is that this is the sort of condition where cold cranking amps (CCA) or equivalent measure is critical. This is often what you'll be paying for with a premium battery. For a SV650 a battery with a CCA rating in the realms of 200A is advisable, you'll find cheaper alternatives with nominally the right amp.hour (Ah) rating might be as low as 120-140A.

An example is the Yuasa YTZ range, but there are others. Honda dealers do them at very *reasonable prices.


(* well it's not reasonable, but competitive)

Originally Posted by embee

I think Matt and Sid are saying effectively the same thing (how's that for diplomacy? )

All I'd add is that this is the sort of condition where cold cranking amps (CCA) or equivalent measure is critical. This is often what you'll be paying for with a premium battery. For a SV650 a battery with a CCA rating in the realms of 200A is advisable, you'll find cheaper alternatives with nominally the right amp.hour (Ah) rating might be as low as 120-140A.

An example is the Yuasa YTZ range, but there are others. Honda dealers do them at very *reasonable prices.


(* well it's not reasonable, but competitive)

Good comment, we test lots of different brands and some of them are frankly awful. If you buy a good brand you won't go far wrong. IMHO the Varta/Yuasa batteries are among the very best. The newer YTZ definately have more ability to deliver high currents for starting, but are a tad more expensive. The SV doesn't need a huge amount of power to turn it over, so I can't honestly recommend them for general use. However, if you keep your bike outside and the temp drops to -5 or more like tonight, then the extra power is a useful reserve.

[chris8886]

ok, all helpful comments, thank you all.

so, my battery is probably goosed and some have said some are crap and some good. i don't mind spending a bit more on a new one if it's gonna last longer. on account of this, what would people recomend to me? bearing in mind my bike ususally has the luxury of a garage, but every now and then it does get left out and doesnt get to see an optimate very often. which one is going to be best for me?

thanks again

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Batteryman

Good comment, we test lots of different brands and some of them are frankly awful. If you buy a good brand you won't go far wrong. IMHO the Varta/Yuasa batteries are among the very best. The newer YTZ definately have more ability to deliver high currents for starting, but are a tad more expensive. The SV doesn't need a huge amount of power to turn it over, so I can't honestly recommend them for general use. However, if you keep your bike outside and the temp drops to -5 or more like tonight, then the extra power is a useful reserve.

Hmm I need a new battery for my SV in the near future - .org Discount?